Clear out unwanted goods – hold a garage sale.

• Get rid of flammables – paint, petrol, gas cylinders.
• Empty fuel from mowers, clippers, trimmers and so on.
• Clothes – do you need them all? Charity shops may want them.
• Separate books – disposable, family reading, valuable.
• Check all electrical goods – will they work in the new home?
• Start making up your change of address list.
• Arrange to have mail forwarded.
• Agree on termination date for electricity, gas, oil, telephone and other main suppliers.
• If you are taking electrical goods such as a stereo, see if you still have their original boxes.
• Have rugs cleaned.
• If you have children, separate cherished toys to travel with you.
• Round up personal documentation – marriage/birth certificates, driving licenses and so on.
• Keep passports separate so they are not packed.
• Want to take the car? Check on import regulations and the duty payable.
• To say nothing of family pets – make sure vaccinations and documentation are up to date.
• Will your new home be ready? If not, you need to arrange temporary storage.
• Shops, schools, theatres, lifestyles – it’s never too early to find out about your new home.
• Start running down freezer stocks.
• Arrange your finances – close or transfer bank accounts, savings accounts and so on, if
• Necessary

Packing:

• Pack one room at a time. This will help you when it comes time to unpack.
• Pack a couple of cartons a day, starting well ahead of the move.
• Mark all boxes, designating room and box number. Make a carton identification log to show the number of boxes packed per room, and the total number of cartons packed. It’s a good idea to leave space in your log for a special comments section to note carton conditions or location of high-value goods. Notify your mover of any high-value items.
• Be sure to have plenty of “filling” material available.
• Be sure that the bottoms of all cartons are secured and will hold the weight of the contents.
• Packing tape or gummed tape is better than masking tape.
• Pack heavier items toward the bottom of the box and lighter items toward the top. Try to keep a per-box weight of 50 pounds or less; it makes moving a lot easier. A general rule to remember on carton size — the heavier the item, the smaller the carton
• Mirrors, Paintings and Pictures — Tell your agent about valuable paintings for special care. Wrap small mirrors, pictures, paintings, and frames and place on edge in cartons. Place large pictures and paintings on edge in heavy cardboard containers. Large wall or dresser mirrors will be taken down by the movers and placed in special cartons. For added safety, place tape diagonally across the mirror to protect better against damage. Do not place the newspaper directly against paintings.
• Personal Computers and Video Recorders — Pack valuable electronic equipment in original cartons when available. Otherwise, use strong, corrugated cartons and place protective padding on the bottom of the carton. Wrap an old blanket or protective pad around the item and place it in its carton. Place additional padding between the carton and the computer or video recorder. Wrap cords separately, label to identify usage and place in a plastic bag away from delicate surfaces. Non-detachable cords should also be wrapped. Place cords between the padded computer or video recorder and the carton. Be sure your personal computer is “parked” and ready for transport

If you are looking for the “Ultimate Moving House Guide” printable version to stick on your fridge, please grab a copy from our website or download it here. For additional house moving tips or to receive a free, no-obligation moving services estimate, contact us today at (012) 997-1964

• Make lists. If you’re moving somewhere temporarily before you’re able to move into your future rental or home, make two lists to manage where your belongings need to go. It’ll help streamline the moving process.
• Take an inventory. Go room-to-room and write down everything that needs to be packed. If you have large items, like beds, dressers or entertainment centres, write down the measurements.
• Leave plenty of time to pack. Most people report that moving takes them at least one month to pack, so make sure to allow plenty of time. It can be helpful to set packing goals each day, writing those goals on a calendar so you won’t get overwhelmed before your move.
• Enlist help, but delegate. Having friends and family to help you pack can be very helpful, but first, everyone must agree on exactly what tasks they’ll be accomplishing and when they will be finished so everything runs smoothly.
• If you plan to hire a moving company, do your research and hire a reputable company that is licensed, bonded and insured. Use your gut instincts. If you don’t feel comfortable with the movers you hired, don’t let them take your possessions.
• When you’re packing, pack a suitcase or bag for each family member as if you’re all going on a weekend vacation. This would include clothing, any medications, toiletries or other personal items that would be needed for a few days away from home. Keep these personal belongings close to you, such as in your car, so you don’t have to search through your boxes for your basic necessities.
• Pack (and unpack) one room at a time. It can help you to better organize when you unpack at your new home.
• Get rid of clutter. Take this opportunity to clean out your closets and get rid of unwanted items. Have a yard sale or donate items you no longer want or need. It will save you time and money in the long run.
• Be creative. Use your linens, towels and clothing to pack around fragile items. It’ll save space and money on packing materials.
• Pack tightly, but not too heavily. Try to keep each box below 50 pounds if possible. It’ll decrease the chances that someone could get injured or that the box could break.
• When in doubt, take a photo. Use your cell phone to take pictures of how your electronic equipment is hooked up before disconnecting and packing the wiring. It’ll make unpacking and hooking up your equipment much less frustrating at your new place. Cord labels may also be helpful.
• Don’t forget to let people know you’ve moved. Fill out a change of address form at the post office at least 30 days before you move. Let everyone know you are moving, including your bank, cell phone provider, doctor, magazine and newspaper subscriptions, your children’s schools or child care provider, and any services you regularly pay for.

If you are looking for the “Ultimate Moving House Guide” printable version to stick on your fridge, please grab a copy from our website or download it here. For additional house moving tips or to receive a free, no-obligation moving services estimate, contact us today at (012) 997-1964

This is where a professional and reliable mover will step in to help you out with a full-service move. Regardless of the size of your items, a Pretoria furniture removals company should have knowledgeable and trained staff on board, who knows about the correct packing procedures. You can’t pack a box too tightly as it might break open. However, if you pack a box with too few items, there is a chance of it getting crushed by other boxes during the move. Your chosen Pretoria movers must be well-versed with the different packing methods of each item so we can easily prevent this possibility.

The biggest plus point of hiring a reliable Pretoria moving company is that they should fit into everyone’s budget plan. If you hire large companies for the packing and moving of your goods, then you have to pay them a fixed amount, which will be calculated based on a weight minimum, which means that even if the total weight of your goods is much lesser than the minimum weight, you still have to pay the full charge. Reputable mini movers shouldn’t charge any additional or hidden fees. Charges should be calculated only after your moving company assesses the total weight of your goods.

They put the convenience of their customers first. They provide customers with accurate delivery times and dates so that they can plan the move accordingly. In case you need to deliver your goods at multi-delivery points, any good removals company provide that facility to save you the trouble. To get a clear idea about the typical moving services, take a quick look below:

• They should help in quick and easy employee relocations.
• People are buying items on eBay and online auctions all the time. They help in the shipment of goods to people’s houses.
• If your son/daughter is attending a university or school that is situated far away, then your mover will see to it that all shipments reach the venue in record time.
• You might want to send a television or a piece of furniture to your friend or relative. A reliable mover should have experience in transporting electronic goods and furniture.

If you are interested in engaging a reliable mover, all you have to do is to contact Box & Move and we will get back to you immediately. Mini Moves promise to provide you with the best services at the most reasonable rates.

If you are looking for the “Ultimate Moving House Guide” printable version to stick on your fridge, please grab a copy from our website or download it here. For additional house moving tips or to receive a free, no-obligation moving services estimate, contact us today at (012) 997-1964

It is important to shop around for your utilities to ensure you get the best deal. Several companies offer introductory deals or may or may not require deposits, so it is necessary for you to check out all your options to make sure that you are getting the best deal.

Moving School Information

If you are moving with children, one of your big concerns will be where to send your children to school. A great tool to help you find out what schools are in your area is School Guide. This free service allows you to find out all you need to know about possible schools in your new area.

Too Much to Move?

Two months before you move, take an inventory of your belongings. If you find you have a good number of items that you believe will just be gathering dust in your new home, plan a garage sale to avoiding throwing away things at the last minute. If you do not have the time or the space to have a moving sale, you can call a local charity to arrange a drop-off or pick-up so the items that you do not need any longer will be used for a good purpose.

Packing Smart

We all know that packing at the last moment is not your best course of action when moving, but what should you pack first?

To have a truly organized move, you should start packing about two months in advance of your move date, beginning with clothes that you will not need in the current season (if you are moving in the winter, pack your summer clothes). Another set of items you can pack early is books, knickknacks and other items on display.

Instead of trying to write a contents list on each and every box, try colour-coding the boxes with stickers to alert either you or your movers which rooms the boxes belong in. Not only will this save time and ink, but it will also prevent movers or anyone passing by from seeing an interesting label on your boxes and deciding to rifle through your belongings.

As you get closer to your move date and you begin to pack everyday items, there are some items that you should make sure stay unpacked, namely a change of clothing, pet food, snacks, can opener, corkscrew, towels, toiletries, shower curtain and cleaning supplies. Make sure you have room to pack these items with you in your car to make sure they are unpacked first as well.

Preparing Your House to be Sold

When moving, you first have to deal with what you are leaving behind. One of the biggest things that you will be leaving behind is, obviously, your house. There are several ways that you can make your house ready to be sold. Little things, like cleaning well, can even boost the price buyers are willing to pay for your home. Read the article Upgrading Your Home to Sell before you move find out more tips for preparing your house.

Keep Records of Cancellations

You’re moving, so you disconnect or cancel your services at your current residence. You think you are free and clear until a few months later when you receive a bill for the past three months of service at a house that you no longer live in. Unless you have records, you may have to pay these bills.

When you call to cancel or disconnect a service when you are moving or just changing your provider, be sure to keep a record of your phone call. Get the name of the customer service representative you speak to and get the confirmation number. Put all this information in a safe place for six months at least to make sure you do not need it.

Helping Your Kids to Adjust

No matter how far you are moving, the change will be tough on your children. Your move will be especially tough on your children if they have to change schools. To help your children adjust to your move, you should read this article from Better Homes and Gardens. It has a lot of good advice on how to aid your children in getting over the “school changing blues.”

Finding a Home

Looking for a home in your new city? It is tough to find the perfect home in a new city, especially if you currently live far away from where you are moving to. But if you know where you should look, the process can be fun and exciting.

Planning the Layout of Your New Home

Planning the layout of your new house will save you hours of shifting around boxes once you get to your new home. Using a layout of your home, you should plan which rooms will have what furniture. Once you have done this, you should make copies and give them to your movers so they will be well aware of your plans. This way, the movers will be able to put your belonging is the right place the first time.

Moving Hazardous Household Materials

There are several items that have been deemed too dangerous to move. Professional movers will not move items that are flammable, corrosive or explosive, and you should not move these hazardous materials either. You can look at this hazardous materials list to see examples of items that you shouldn’t move. Before packing, you should ask your professional mover for a complete list of items that they will not move to make sure you are compliant with their regulations.

Relocating a Cat for a Happier Move

Cats are finicky animals, even during non-stressful times. If you are planning on moving with a cat, you should check out this article on moving with cats.

One of the helpful suggestions in this article is to keep your cat in a familiar confined space throughout the move. Although you might feel guilty for this, the confined space with familiar scents will help keep your cat calm. It will also prevent your cat from running out of an open door.

Also, be very patient with your cat once you bring your cat to your new home. Leave your cat in its carrier with the door open and let your pet decide when they feel comfortable to come out. You can try to coax it out with treats or toys, but don’t try to pull it out of the carrier, as you will just stress your pet further and probably get a few scratches in the process.

With these and several other good tips, this article can help out any cat lover who is on the move.

Books to Help Your Child Cope with a Move

Are you worried that your child is not responding well to your recent move? Moves can affect children a great deal, especially if they are attached to their school or have close friends that they left behind when they moved. There are several books out there that can help you help your child adjust. You can follow this link to see several books for you and your child that may help your child cope with your recent move.

How to Move Your Vehicle

Need to know how to move your vehicle? There a few steps you need to follow to ensure your car shipment goes smoothly:

• Make sure to schedule the move at least four weeks in advance.
• When you call the car mover, be able to provide information on where the car will be picked up from and delivered, the pick-up and arrival date and the type of car.
• Do not leave personal property inside your car during the move.
• Have your car insured for the move.

Get Your Pet Accustomed to Your New Home

It is difficult to get your pet accustomed to a new place after a move. They miss their old home just as much as you and your family do. If your pet is not helped along to feel comfortable in their new home, they can develop high levels of stress which may cause medical problems. This article details some ways that you can help out your cat or dog to get to know their new home.

Overlapping Your Utilities

Several services offered through WhiteFence allow you to choose when to disconnect your service at your old address as well as connect your service at your new address. When you are selecting the dates, make sure to overlap the dates for as long as you think it will take you to move all your possessions and clean your old place. If you turn off your utilities too early, you may not have electricity or water when it comes time to clean up.

How to Pack Your Moving Truck

Packing a moving truck may seem like it is a straightforward process, but if you want to fit as much as you can without breaking any of your belongings, there are some simple rules you should follow:

• Pack all large, heavy furniture and appliances first. Push these items against the wall closest to the cab. To make sure the truck is balanced, pack heavy items across this wall. Make sure to use furniture padding, that you can probably get from the moving truck company, to protect your wood surfaces and corners.
• Move long items, like your mattress, sofas and box springs, next. Place these items along the long walls of the truck.
• Anything that can be disassembled, like your bed frame, you should take it apart.
• Now it is time for your heaviest boxes. You can place these on top of your appliances and furniture. Make sure not to leave any nook or cranny between your furniture unfilled.
• Once you have packed the heavy boxes, pack your lighter boxes. Make sure that the lightest boxes are on top.
• Once you feel assured that all these items are secure, pack your fragile or awkward items.

If you follow these steps, you and your possessions should be in good shape once you get to your new residence. No matter how well you pack, however, it is always a good idea to get moving insurance.

Make Lists

Creating lists can help you keep yourself organized during your move. To help make sure you know where all your belongings are, you can print out a numbered table with enough space to write the contents of each box. Once you begin packing, number the boxes and write the contents on your list by the corresponding number. Also, make lists of supplies you should keep in your former residence so you can make sure you have what you need when you have to clean.

Basically, anything you can write down will be helpful since you will have to do so much during your move. Small things that you could normally remember will be lost in the shuffle of a big move.

Box & Move provides a range of fully professional removals solutions for addresses in and around Pretoria, and we can handle any job, no matter how big or small. Contact us today or complete one of the “moving quote” request form to get started with your move.

Our Ultimate Moving House Guide is just what you need!

In our decade of serving Pretoria & Johannesburg, we’ve learned the best ways to make your move go as smoothly as possible.

For your convenience, we’ve put them all together in one easy-to-read guide!

From scheduling to packing, labelling to logistics and everything in between, you’ll be amazed at how our house moving tips will help you maximize your next move.

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Say goodbye to sleepless nights and long days spent worrying about using the right moving checklist.

Our thorough moving guide addresses all your needs and concerns and helps you concentrate on small, easily attainable goals, a few at a time.

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Moving and Packing Checklist

We have it all here at Box & Move. We provide you with our own shuttle service so that your goods will arrive safely at your new home. We can prepare and clean your new and previous residence with our dedicated cleaning service so that you don’t have to worry about doing it yourself. Sit back, relax and let us do the work.

So let’s get started:

At least one month before your move:

• Schedule a free in-home moving estimate.

One month before your move:

• Reserve your move date.

If you are doing your own packing, and you have not already done so, schedule delivery of your boxes and packing materials.

• Begin organizing and packing.

Your attic, basement, and garage are wonderful places to start.  Make sure that all box seams are sealed securely with packing tape to ensure safe handling.

Fill in empty spaces with paper to prevent shifting in transit.  Label each box with a description of the contents and the room to which the contents belong.

One to two weeks prior to your move:

• Mail change of address forms
• Finish most packing.

The day before your move:

• Set aside items that you will need for the final cleanup.
• Clean refrigerator, disconnect water line and allow to dry.
• Finish up any last-minute packing. If you have arranged for us to pack, set aside items you will need until everything is unpacked.

The morning of the move:

• Strip all beds.
• Secure pets.
• Make sure driveway is free of obstructions.

If you are looking for the “Ultimate Moving House Guide” printable version to stick on your fridge, please grab a copy from our website or download it here. For additional house moving tips or to receive a free, no-obligation moving services estimate, contact us today at (012) 997-1964